INSIDE AUTO RACING.

New league is on track

Possible rival to NASCAR aims for 2003 debut

April 28, 2002|BY ED HINTON.

The France family, which owns NASCAR, also controls International Speedway Corp., which owns or controls 13 major tracks. They're already in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando-Daytona Beach and South Florida (Homestead) markets. If deals could be struck with those existent tracks, fine. If not, then the franchise owners would build their own.

Wheeler doesn't see much potential for established Winston Cup stars to sign on with individual TRAC teams as a sideline, mainly because the Cup schedule is so hectic already.

Wheeler figures TRAC initially will be for "the Bobby Hillin types"--that is, Cup drivers who have lost their rides and/or are struggling on the fringes.

But consider the volatile situation already boiling in NASCAR.

Headstrong Kevin Harvick shows little sign of being humbled by his recent punishments, the toughest in NASCAR history for rough driving. He was barred from an entire race, fined $35,000 and placed on sternly observed probation for the remainder of this year.

Tony Stewart hinted strongly last year that NASCAR's iron chains are chafing him enough that he sometimes ponders going somewhere else. The pundits' reaction last year was: Where would he go?

Maybe not in 2003, but perhaps in '04, '05 or '06 there might be a refuge for the new mavericks, such as the AFL provided for Joe Namath in the 1960s. (The AFL, lest we forget, was perceived as a half-baked idea at first, but quickly became a force and after only a decade comprised half the dynamic of the entire NFL.)

Further, "Don't be surprised if, by '04 or '05, we introduce European or Asian makes," said TRAC President Jon Pritchett. The addition of Toyota, Honda, BMW and/or Mercedes would beat NASCAR at its own old game--fielding the makes of cars Americans actually drive.

To explain its team concept, TRAC ran a prototype play-by-play of a race Wednesday. An Atlanta driver won the race and took individual honors--but Las Vegas, with the composite score of drivers finishing second, fourth and fifth, edged Texas in team points.

The warnings of Burns and Steinbeck, about the best-laid plans of mice and men, are duly considered here.

As are the failures of several start-up leagues in the various sports.